John Digby, Earl of Bristol (1580-1653). 'Grieve not, dear Love'. Andrew Macphail, comp. 1916. The Book of Sorrow

Andrew Macphail, comp. The Book of Sorrow. 1916.

XII. Love and Death
‘Grieve not, dear Love’

By John Digby, Earl of Bristol (1580–1653)


GRIEVE not, dear Love! although we often part:
But know, that Nature gently doth us sever,
Thereby to train us up, with tender art,
To brook the day when we must part for ever.

For Nature, doubting we should be surprised	5
By that sad day whose dread doth chiefly fear us,
Doth keep us daily schooled and exercised;
Lest that the fright thereof should overbear us!